Lead Free Primers
- Thread starter Ian Robertson
- Start date
- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
I suspect most folks do not know what their primers are made of. Frankly, I was under the impression most primers made nowadays were lead free. Also curious to here from educated ones on this matter.
Meanwhile, If you know exactly which primers you want (names models), you may get some replies.
Meanwhile, If you know exactly which primers you want (names models), you may get some replies.
I was told that this new technology was not being shared with reloaders, only available in factory ammo. I joined a club with a new indoor range and only lead free is allowed. I don't know what if anything is available and all the info I can find on the web is several years old.
I believe part of the problem is the lead free primers do not have the shelf life reloaders demand.
My understanding is that the lead free primed factory ammo is used by police agencies for indoor training.
Duty ammo is often leaded....
If your range mandates lead free or encapsulated ammo, you can likely cope.
If that extends to lead free priming, you may have a problem.
- Location
- AB foothills
Ask the range that you joined. They made the rules, they must have some idea, no? Pretty hard to run a range if no one can get components I would think...
Murom in Russia makes lead-free primers. I would check with Canada Ammo to see if they plan on selling them.
I once tried some of these primers that came in PMC packaging. The result was poor accuracy and a couple of failures to fire. This might have been due to the shelf life issue noted above.
I once tried some of these primers that came in PMC packaging. The result was poor accuracy and a couple of failures to fire. This might have been due to the shelf life issue noted above.
- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
In line with that, all the indoor ranges I shoot IPSC in kebekistan are imposing "jacketed" (encapsulated) ammo. That always referred to bullet types. No specific restriction was ever imposed on primer types.
However, that does not answer directly OP's question and I am also curious to know if such primers are available to Canadian reloaders.
They told me that I needed lead free primers and what I took to mean encapsulated bullets. I don't think they are worried about lead splash just vapours from the base of the bullet and primer. This would mean that gas checks would work and I will check into painting cast bullets with powder spray or epoxy paint. They are suggesting that one should buy lead free ammo. This is being imposed by the ON CFO apparently because the range is new and they are not grandfathered for lead if that makes any sense at all considering they have all the required ventilation. Consequently I don't think the range gets a lot of use. Where can you buy 22LR which is lead free and it's against a reloaders way of life to buy factory ammo. I remember the last box of factory I bought, 45 Colt because I didn't have my dies yet, still regret that day!!!
fully plated bullets bullets are fine as long as they are fully plated including the base, for instance, Campro bullets are fully plated, and Berrys are not.
I believe that the amount of lead in the primers is minimum these days. I use CCI primers, I will chick on that.
I believe that the amount of lead in the primers is minimum these days. I use CCI primers, I will chick on that.
Lead free primers are still meant for commercial operations at present. Unfortunately they are far more sensitive to humidity and there are cases where their sensitivity has caused some rounds to go off, simply by sweeping on the floor or with static. Commercial loaders need to be aware of the humidity levels and temperature when loading these rounds. CCI lead free are easily identifiable as if you look carefully at the primer there is a very tiny LF embossed on the surface. If your range insists on lead free primers, I would ask them where they plan on acquiring such items. I am sure they are referring to the projectiles in which case plated also known as encapsulated would be fine. If they insist on jacketed, then how do they propose covering the exposed lead on the base of a FMJ bullet, or are they insisting on CMJ(Complete Metal Jacket) bullets...
dB
dB
For a recent analysis of lead exposure see the September 2014 issue of Shooting Sports, one of the NRA publications. Handling 22lr cartridges is probably the most dangerous shooting activity, and relevant to this thread, there is no apparent difference between lead styphanate and lead-free primers. The dangerous exposure comes somewhere over 400,000 firied in an 8 x 8 foot room! Lead vapor on clothing is much more of an exposure danger and I begin to wonder if all those who shoot with gloves ever wash them. Go look at the article for the complete view.
Dr Jim
Dr Jim
